Oh sweet, sweet Chelan.
This year was the largest turnout to date. It seems like I'm saying that every year, but I guess a good thing can't help but get bigger and better over time.
Every September the Chelan PUD gives us kayakers one weekend of recreational release into the Chelan Gorge.
The locals set out some furniture for us. So sick!
The Chelan Gorge recreational release came to fruition on an overcast day, deep in Chelan County. 2015 was the first year that I've needed to wear a drysuit in the gorge, but the cold weather on Saturday just meant the stoke had to be that much higher.
Darren rallies into the first ledge in Entrance Exam.
Nobody ever talks about how fun the first slide is. It would be a named rapid if it wasn't above Entrance Exam.
Entrance Exam gets the most media coverage and the most respect because it's the longest rapid on the run. I would say it's the toughest. And it's the first rapid. So yeah, that's fun.
Entrance Exam consists of four parts: The entry slide.
The first Ledge.
The second Ledge.
Finally the third (and stickiest) Ledge.
The Crowd goes wild.
The combination of a higher than normal turnout and an overall lower number of Chelan veterans on the roster Saturday morning lead me to believe that the carnage reel would be well padded this year. I believe I took the over/under at 7 swims for the first day.
On the contrary, the Chelan virgins absolutely crushed the run. It was awesome to see some new faces and to meet some new boaters, it means the word is traveling and people are seeing the value in the Chelan recreational release
Next year we'll bring the couch too.
Next up is the Chelan Slide and Meatlocker. A scary ferry to a fun rock slide. Or a chance to op-test your sprayskirt.
The Chelan Slide:
The Meatlocker:
Tom was swiping right the whole time.
Teamwork keeps you out of the Meatlocker. Ben took one for the team and set "Safety" for those who went for the ferry.
But some people look for it.
And give it. These guys all had sicko lines on the Meatlocker. Crushfest.
The Point of no Return. Just past The Chelan Slide is Super Boof. An awesome cross-current right stroke boof into bliss. A fast moving pool puts you right above Throne and Pinnacle. This is one the sickets boofs in the canyon and also the most mellow. It's a nice break from the deathgrip the rest of the run requires.
Darren shows us an alternate Super Boof line.
The Team rallies through Super Boof on their way to Throne.
Dan Rubado.
Ryan Young.
Jeremy Bisson.
Throne awaits.
Throne is a fun move, but still retains some nail-biting factor as a couple of carped rolls means you get to run Pinnacle without a scout.
Todd sporting the new Dagger Nomad.
The Dufey drops in.
Since Rob McKibbon got the first D on this thing a couple years back, the number of peeps running it has steadily climbed. This release weekend was no exception. We got to see some awesome lines... and some lines that make you thank whoever thought of putting a face mask on a kayak helmet.
Safety is key, as a significant portion of the run-out of Pinnacle Falls flows directly into a massive boulder sieve pocket on river right.
How's it look fella's?
Jeremy Bisson, Pinnacle Falls.
Todd Wells, Pinnacle Falls.
Pinnacle Crushfest.
Jeremy and Tom Marley decided to give Pinnacle a go in the raft. Video to follow...
The Fat Lady is less of a rapid and more just a sieve-pile you get to kayak over.
So. Another year in the books. Another sick canyon kayaked. Thanks to everyone that made this weekend possible. I love it!
Thank you to American Whitewater for gaining us kayakers access to this amazing river. Thank you to Chelan PUD for the warm welcome and hospitality.
While I find time to finish editing all this carnage footage, Check out a teaser from this year's release.
2015 - Chelan Teaser from daniel patrinellis on Vimeo.
Until next September, gnome what I'm sayin?
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